Ms Kennedy arrived in Sydney on Friday morning after her ambassadorship was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate in May and she was sworn in on June 10.
"Everybody is so excited about working together in the Quad and in the Pacific," she told reporters after landing.
"China certainly has a big presence here in the region but our partnership is what I'll be focused on. There's a big agenda and I can't wait to get started."
Despite the US ambassador post to Australia remaining vacant for around 18 months, Ms Kennedy said the Pacific has drawn the focus of Washington.
"It's certainly a big focus now. This is a critical area in the region," she said.
"The US need to do more. We're putting our embassies back in, and the Peace Corps is coming and USAID is coming back.
"We haven't been there for a while but that's all tremendously positive. The US and Australia working together will make a big, big impact."
Ms Kennedy will formally present her credentials to the governor-general on Monday.
The ambassador's arrival coincides with a national address by a former US national security agency chief.
Admiral Michael Rogers will address the National Press Club about cyber-security and the threat posed by Russia and China in the cybersphere as well as how the trilateral AUKUS security alliance can respond to the emerging challenge.
The four-star admiral also headed the US Cyber Command under presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
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